First Boeing 777-8F enters final assembly

Image: Boeing

The first prototype of the Boeing 777-8F freighter has entered the final assembly stage at Boeing’s production facility in Everett. The aircraft was moved between production buildings on April 23, marking the beginning of the concluding phase of work, which includes engine installation and comprehensive testing of onboard systems.

According to the schedule, the aircraft (factory designation WG001) is expected to begin its flight test program by the end of this year. Its delivery to the launch operator—Luxembourg-based cargo airline Cargolux Airlines—is planned for 2029. The second unit (WG002) will also participate in certification testing and, like the first, will eventually enter service with Cargolux.

Based on stated specifications, the aircraft has a maximum structural payload of 118.2 tons, with a commercial payload of 112.3 tons—approximately 10 tons more than the existing Boeing 777F model. Its stated range is approximately 8,170 km.

The new freighter is being developed as a replacement for the Boeing 747 Freighter variants. The fuselage length of the 777-8F is approximately 70.9 meters—about 7 meters longer than the 777F and nearly identical to (just 30 cm longer than) the length of the Boeing 747-400F. Structurally, the aircraft is a shortened modification of the passenger Boeing 777-9 and represents the eighth version of the 777 family.

Additionally, the 777-8F inherits the enlarged wing from the 777-9, featuring a wingspan of approximately 71.6 meters with folding wingtips. In the folded position, the span is approximately 64.8 meters—the same as the previous-generation 777-300ER and the current 777F freighter with its metallic wing, which the new model is intended to replace.

To date, the 777-8F program has secured 68 firm orders. Qatar Airways served as the launch customer, signing a contract in January 2022. Other customers include All Nippon Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, and the Azerbaijani cargo carrier Silk Way West.

The latter expects to receive its four ordered aircraft of this type between 2028 and 2030. The Azerbaijani carrier is currently renewing its fleet with Boeing 777F aircraft; it presently operates four such planes, with two more expected in 2027.

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